2016 GLE350 engine dipstick......
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 43
Likes: 1
From: Reno
2010 GL450 and 2016 GLE350
2016 GLE350 engine dipstick......
As the dipstick is located at the extreme rear of the engine, and the tube seems somewhat a corkscrew, it's difficult to pull out and replace correctly.
But what puzzles me, is that after sitting hours or days, when the stick is first pulled out, it's completely dry with no trace of oil. Panic attack!
However, when the stick is replaced and then pulled again, it shows a normal oil indication. Weird!
But what puzzles me, is that after sitting hours or days, when the stick is first pulled out, it's completely dry with no trace of oil. Panic attack!
However, when the stick is replaced and then pulled again, it shows a normal oil indication. Weird!
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 889
Likes: 148
From: Southern Illinois
, 2023 BMW X4, 1991 190E
Dru Sump
I speaking about something, I know nothing about but I think Mercedes uses what they call is a dry sump, whatever that is and its probably the reason for the oil stick .
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 4,037
Likes: 1,011
From: Miami, FL
2003 CL 600
It's because the tube is well sealed. The air in the tube has no place to go and blocks oil from coming in. When you removed the stick, the oil goes up to the level it's at in the rest of the engine.
Very common to find them dry on the first check, but then correct for every time after. Normal due to the design.
FWIW, the cars with a small dipstick, mostly 4 cyl, have a long slot cut into the dipstick tube down inside the oil pan and don't suffer the same issue. You can't use vacuum to pull their oil out using the tube alone though.
Very common to find them dry on the first check, but then correct for every time after. Normal due to the design.
FWIW, the cars with a small dipstick, mostly 4 cyl, have a long slot cut into the dipstick tube down inside the oil pan and don't suffer the same issue. You can't use vacuum to pull their oil out using the tube alone though.
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 64
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From: Pacific Northwest
2007 Mercedes Benz CLS63 AMG
On my 2007 CLS63, 156 engine, while I was changing my starter, that's another painfull job story, I removed the two bolts at the top of the tube behind the right cylinder head and any connector and wire holder points. I was able to easily pull the dipstick and tube out, very unnecessarily as it turns out for the starter job. The oil goes quite high into the tube so draining the pan first is recommended and oil and filter change likely need to be done as well. With the starter loose or out, the tube popped right out. When reinstalling it I had the starter in place, I should have done that after installing the dipstick tube, the tube was difficult at best to get positioned to re-insert due to starter contact. It was only a little bit off when the tube was rotated in a certain position. Once past the starter and into the clearance bend it was fine. I must have chunked the grommet/seal enough for it to start leaking. I have a new grommet/seal but lack the motivation currently to replace it. I think when I do, I will position the seal on the tube near its final position. This should allow the tube to go in easily protecting the grommet/seal from the end of the tube and when close, carefully push the seal into the upper pan and install the retaining bolts at the top of the tube once its all looking happy.
